NEVER FORGET

CHAPTER FOUR

Morning dawned, bright and early--probably too early. Sephiroth ate a quiet, solitary breakfast in his room, then headed downstairs. He silently approached the group, who were discussing the day's plans. Cloud, Tifa, Vincent and Red XIII were lobbying to stay at Icicle Inn for a few more days, so the group could spend some time together. Barrett and Cid, on the other hand, wanted to leave--and Sephiroth assumed it was because of him. Sephiroth himself was all for anything that let him be close to Cloud.

Finally Cid and Barret, being out-numbered, lost out and the group split up to go their own ways. Red XIII went outside at the insistence of some of the town's children--they wanted to play with him. Barrett and Cid settled themselves down in front of the fire. Cloud, Tifa, Vincent and Sephiroth grabbed some snowboards and headed for the hills.

Cloud pulled on his gloves. "How about a race to the bottom?"

Vincent smiled wryly. "What a suggestion," he said. "Especially considering you are sure to win."

Cloud flashed an impish grin. "That's the point."

Sephiroth chuckled. "We'll see who wins."

"That sounds like a challenge."

Sephiroth grinned. "Of course it is." Cloud grinned right back, and Sephiroth's heart actually semed to flutter. It was so much like--

Suddenly, Cloud was moving, already heading down the white hill. "Cheater!" Tifa shouted, as she and the two men were quickly in hot pursuit. They could vaguely hear Cloud's laughter from up ahead.

It felt too good to be home. After a wonderful sleep in his own bed, waking in Sephiroth's arms, Cloud felt completely revitalised. Life went on as normal and all was perfect again.

Cloud stood over the stove, making scrambled eggs and pancakes for breakfast. Sephiroth had said he would cook, but Cloud had insisted. Sephiroth was never one to enjoy preparing a breakfast much more complicated than toast and cereal--it just wasn't something he had the interest for first thing in the morning. And Cloud definitely did not feel like eating blackened and charred pancakes and scrambled eggs.

He raised his eyebrows as he felt eyes watching his back. He turned his head to see Sephiroth quickly look down at his crossword puzzle, trying to hide the fact that he had been watching him. Cloud shook his head and went back to the task at hand, letting the eggs sit for a moment as he flipped over the pancakes. Again, he felt eyes on his back, and again he turned to see Sephiroth glance back down at his crossword.

"I'm not going to break, you know," Cloud said finally.

"What?" Sephiroth asked.

"I know you're watching me like an overprotective mother, Sephiroth," Cloud told him. "You don't have to, I'm fine."

Sephiroth slowly lowered his head again. He tapped the end of his pen thoughtfully against his cheek but said nothing. Cloud could swear that--

"Sephiroth... are you blushing?"

"Me? No, of course not."

Cloud chuckled softly and turned back to their breakfast. Sephiroth stared up at him as he put their food down on the table, and Cloud sat, shaking his head with another soft chuckle.

"Don't you even laugh at me," Sephiroth said defensively.

"You're the one looking over my shoulder constantly," Cloud pointed out.

"You're the one who was in the hospital."

"Sephiroth," Cloud said patiently, "I heal quickly, you know that. I'm fine."

"Yes, but--"

"There's nothing to worry about."

"We don't know that for sure. That woman who shot you said they were Turks."

"So they said."

Sephiroth slammed his fork down on the table. "Did you hit your head and I didn't notice?" he demanded.

"Sephiroth!"

"What if someone is trying to kill you?" Sephiroth shook his head. "Someone did try to kill you!"

"Now who's paranoid?"

Sephiroth's hand clutched the edge of the table, and Cloud noted that he was actually visibly shaking. "There is something going on here!"

"Maybe it's just some sick joke."

"Then it could mean there is still the possibility of a threat! What if that woman finds out she didn't do her job properly, and she comes looking for us? What if I'm not here? What if--"

Cloud reached out to his lover. "Hey, no more 'what ifs'," he said gently. "It's all right. Calm down, okay?"

Sephiroth pulled back sharply, stumbling up from the table. "No, you don't get it!" he shouted.

"I do! You're just concerned. I was hurt and your nerves are a bit frayed."

"My nerves are frayed?!" Sephiroth closed his eyes tightly, trying to control his shaking body. When his eyes opened, he saw Cloud just sitting there, mouth open a bit, staring at him as though he was mad. He whirled around and stalked off into their room, slamming the door behind him; more for effect than privacy, really. He sat on the side of the bed, staring hard at the wall opposite the door. He had to stay in control, couldn't let Cloud see him weak like this.

As if on cue, he heard the door open. He could almost hear Cloud's heartbeat, somehow, and in his mind's eye could see the blond man leaning against the door frame.

"Are you all right?"

"Of course I'm not all right." Sephiroth's voice sound a bit harsh even to his own ears. He heard Cloud's soft footfalls as he came forward towards the bed, but he did not turn to look, not yet. "You were shot, Cloud. You could have died. I almost lost you."

"But you didn't lose me. Everything turned out fine."

Yeah, this time, Sephiroth thought. He felt the bed shift as Cloud crawled up behidn him. Strong arms wrapped around him and held him close.

Sephiroth sighed heavily.

"Please just calm down," Cloud said in an almost pleading tone. "I don't like you like this." His lips gently brushed against the side of Sephiroth's neck, and suddenly found Sephiroth squirming out of his arms and to his feet.

"Why do you always do that?" Sephiroth demanded in that same odd tone of voice.

"Do what?" Cloud asked.

"Try to fix things with sex," Sephiroth ground out. "Do you honestly think that just giving me your body will make everything better?"

"Sephiroth! I'm just trying to comfort you. I don't like seeing you upset." Cloud was rather proud of himself for getting that out so evenly. This entire conversation made him want to howl in frustration.

"I can't lose you!"

"What's wrong with you? You're not going to lose me." Cloud got up from the bed and approached Sephiroth.

"I can't take that chance. You just don't understand." Sephiroth backed away from him.

Cloud frowned. "Sephiroth--"

"No!" Sephiroth shouted. "Don't even talk to me right now!" He pushed past Cloud and stalked from the room. Cloud was immediately following right after him.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" Cloud cried in annoyance, grabbing Sephiroth's arm and swinging him around. He stared up into Sephiroth's eyes for a moment, and something in that aqua stare froze him instantly. He had not seen that look in those eyes in a long time. Sephiroth let out a snarl and shoved Cloud up against a wall, hard, holding him there. His eyes stared down into Cloud's, a dangerous expression bordering on madness there.

"I will not let anyone take you away from me again," Sephiroth growled, "do you understand that?" His fingers gripped tightly into Cloud's arms. "You are mine, Cloud. Mine."

Cloud felt a panic shoot through him, and he began to struggle against Sephiroth's superior strength. "Sephiroth, let go of me," he said, hearing the slight tremble in his voice. "Please, let go."

"Never, Cloud. Never forget that you belong to me. I'm not going to let anyone take you from me."

Cloud began to struggle more, actually fearing that predatory look in those eyes that, for as long as they'd been together now, had never regarded him in that way. He didn't know what was wrong with Sephiroth, and right now he did not want to find out. He just wanted those hands, gorgeous hands that until this moment had been so gentle, hands that were now holding him in a death-grip, to let him go. That tall, muscular frame that was trapping him where he was, emanating so much power, so much anger, was almost terrifying. But Sephiroth held him fast, refusing to release his body or his gaze.

Then, just as quickly as it had happened, Sephiroth let him go, and Cloud slumped down to the floor. He closed his eyes tightly, not wanting to look up and see Sephiroth staring at him. But the next thing he heard was the front door closing, and when he looked up, Sephiroth was gone.